Crafters welcome to plan for Franklin County Fair
GREENFIELD — Residents ages 13 and older who are interested in submitting an art or craft project to be displayed at the Franklin County Fair in September are encouraged to get started by joining artist and librarian Francesca Passiglia for a kick-off brainstorming session on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 10 a.m. in the Greenfield Public Library’s Makerspace.
Attendees will plan projects they’d like to make, and create materials lists and timelines. Residents are welcome to bring anything that they are already working on, too.
Seed-saving workshop set for Jan. 23
GREENFIELD — Paulina Borrego of the Mass Aggie Seed Library at University of Massachusetts Amherst will lead a hands-on seed-saving workshop at the Greenfield Public Library’s Makerspace on Friday, Jan. 23, at 2 p.m.
Some people save seeds to save money, while others selectively save seeds from favorite varieties to further a particular trait. In this workshop, attendees will be saving seeds from sunflower heads, cosmos, calendula, and other vegetables and flowers. Attendees are welcome to bring their own seeds to process as well.
The workshop is limited to 12 participants and is intended for ages 14 and older. Registration is required at greenfieldpl.libcal.com/event/15787092.
Comerford, Whipps attending legislative meet and greet
GREENFIELD — State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and state Rep. Susannah Whipps, I-Athol, will attend a legislative meet and greet at the Greenfield Public Library on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Attendees are encouraged to stop by to hear about their legislative work, ask questions and join in the conversation about issues affecting the community.
Comerford represents 25 cities and towns stretching from Northampton to Ashburnham, encompassing the Connecticut River in Hampshire and Franklin counties and nearly circling the Quabbin Reservoir. She has previously chaired the Joint Committee on Public Health and the Joint Committee on COVID-19, Emergency Preparedness and Management, and she currently chairs the Joint Committee on Higher Education, while also serving as vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Whipps represents the 2nd Franklin District, which includes 10 communities spanning two counties, including half of the city of Greenfield. She serves on the Joint Committees on: Aging and Independence, Higher Education, and Substance Use and Recovery.
The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
Jan. 26: Make Valentine-themed shadow boxes
GREENFIELD — Artist Danielle Lucier will lead attendees in making Valentine-themed shadow boxes at the Greenfield Public Library’s Makerspace on Monday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m.
This program, which is intended for ages 13 and up, is free, but space is limited and registration is required. Register at greenfieldpl.libcal.com/event/15104192.
GCC to host 27th annual MLK Day celebration
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College will host its 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration on Monday, Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cohn Family Dining Commons, featuring a family-friendly program of dance, music, education, arts and reflection.
The event is free and open to the public, and will conclude with a keynote address by Angela Campbell, vice president of institutional mission, culture and climate at GCC.
The celebration will include a wide range of activities and performances, such as:
- MLK Legacy Story Hour for young children, with free books for the first 20 participants.
- Freedom dance from Senegal, led by Abdou Sarr.
- “Celebrating King’s Legacy Through Art,” a creative exploration of King’s impact.
- A screening of “Eyes on the Prize,” a documentary chronicling the civil rights movement.
- An interactive workshop focused on wellness and empowerment.
- Performances by Twice As Smart and the GCC Community Chorus.
“For 27 years, this event has brought our community together to honor Dr. King’s vision of justice, dignity and collective responsibility,” Associate Dean for Community Engagement Judy Raper said in a statement. “We are proud to offer a celebration that is both reflective and joyful, and that invites people of all ages to engage with Dr. King’s enduring legacy.”
Advance registration is requested at gcc.mass.edu/events/martin-luther-king-jr-day-celebration or contact Judy Raper at raperj@gcc.mass.edu.
Handcrafted quilt available through Second Congregational Church raffle
GREENFIELD — The Second Congregational Church of Greenfield is holding a raffle for a handcrafted quilt, with the drawing set for Valentine’s Day.
The quilt, a pattern called “Jungle Fever,” was sewn by Carol Barnes at the behest of longtime local quilting guru Marjorie Reid. The quilt features a dynamic patchwork of squares and rectangles in rich hues of green, orange, purple and yellow, with each block telling a story through intricate patterns such as animal prints, floral motifs and abstract designs.
All proceeds go to the church to support its missions, which include hosting two community meals per week, providing office/meeting space for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts and Twice As Smart, providing a meeting space for local support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous, hosting community concerts, offering prayer groups on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, hosting a quilting and knitting group called Stitching With Love on Wednesdays at 1 p.m., hosting a monthly book discussion group, providing gift bags of baby items for newborn infants at Baystate Franklin Medical Center and holding the annual Bee Fest on the church lawn in May.
Tickets for the raffle are $5 each or five for $20, and are available at The Textile Co. at 21 Power Square in Greenfield, where the quilt is on display.
The raffle drawing will be held at The Textile Co. on Valentine’s Day. Second prize is a 1-pound box of chocolates from Richardson’s Candy Kitchen.